Rail anchor



Aug. 31 1926..

R. A. BLAER RAIL ANCHOR Original Filed Jan. 8 1923 u m M Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,598,515 PATENT OFFICE.

ROLANDIS A. BLAIR, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE P & M COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL Auonon.

Application filed January 8, 1923, Serial No. 611,239. Renewed September 8, 1924.

My invention relates to devices for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, these devices being commonly called rail anchors, anti-creepers, or rail stays.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a rail anchor of simple and compact construction, inexpensive to manufacture, which will maintain a reliable hold on the rail as against the tendency of the device to become. loosened by vibration or other disturbing influences and which may be quickly and conveniently put in place on the rail, or removed therefrom, if occasion requires.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a rail anchor adapted to prevent the longitudinal creep of railroad rails in both directions.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a rail anchor so constructed that it may be removed and replaced several times without impairing its holding power.

The invention consists in the novel arrangements and constructions to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment: illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional view of afragmentary portion of a railroad rail provided with a device embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device showing the approximate relative positions of its parts when the device is free of the rail; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the device applied to the rail.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

Referring now to the drawings the embodiment therein illustrated is forn-ed from a substantially rigid but a slightly resilient steel bar 6, rectangular in cross section. which is bent at one end about a horizontal axis so as to provide an arm 7. the upper surface of said arm engaging the under face of the rail base when the device is in position on the rail 8. The other end of the bar is bent so as to provide a jaw 9 adapted to extend around the free end of the arm 7. the terminal portion 9 of said jaw bearing upon the upper face of the rail base flange 8 the upper surface of the when the device is in position on the rail. The rear end of the arm 7 is offset upwardly so as to provide a shoulder 10 adapted to engage-the edge of the rail base flange 8'. The arm 7 and the jaw 9 extend over and are substantially in the vertical plane occupied by the main portion of the bar 6.

In applying the device to the rail the terminal portion 9 of the jaw is slipped over one of the rail base flanges, for example, the base flange 8 so that the device occupies a position substantially as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 withone face of the bar 6 and the arm 7 in engagement with a tie 11. The end of the jaw 9 is then struck with a sledge hammer or the like and the device driven transversely onto the rail base until the shoulder 10 coincides with the edge of the base flange 8 and that end of the device snaps upwardly with the upper face of the arm 7 bearingagainst the bottom of the rail base.

The jaw formed that, when the device is free of the rail, the distance 01:. see Fig. 2, between the under surface of the jaw terminal and the upper surface of the considerably less than the distance 3 see. Fig. 1, which is equal to the thickness of the arm 7 and the thickness of that portion of the base flange which is gripped between terminal portion of the arm 7 and the under surface of the jaw terminal. In other words, when the device is free of the rail, the jaw terminal is closer to the upper surface of the main body portion than it is when in applied position-011 the rail. The arm 7 is so formed that its free end lies relatively close to the under sur face of the jaw terminal. when the device is free of the rail, there being a space between the under surface of the arm and the upper surface of the main body portion. The arm 7 acts as a long lever, the upper surface of the terminal portion of which bears against the under face of the rail base, while the jaw terminal acts as a short lever, the under surface of which bears upon the upper surface of the base flange. Consequently, as .the device is applied to the rail, the free end of the arm 7 is forced down until in the construction shown the under surface of the terminal portion thereof bears upon the upper surface of the main body portion which occurs before the device is'in main body portion is and its terminal portion are so its final position on the rail base. As further movement of the free end of the arm 7 downward relatively is thus checked, the jaw must be sprung in forcing the device into its final osition on the rail base. The inherent tendiancy of the arm 7 to spring back to its initial position creates one gripping action on the rail base and the inherent tendencyot the jaw to return to its initial position creates a second gripping action on the rail base; consequently there is created a compound gripping action on the base flange. The shoulder 10 under working conditions efiectively prevents reverse transverse movement of the device on the rail bass.

lhe tendency of the device to return to its original shape results in a strong, reliable gripping action on the rail base which is ampie to prevent any slippage of the device longitudinally on the rail notwithstanding the disturbing influences to which the device is subjected due to the passage of heavy rolling stock or due to weather conditions,

lThe under surface of the jaw terminal and the upper surface of the terminal portion of. the arm 7 bite into the respective upper and lower surfaces of the base flange 8, as the device is applied to the rail, thus creating a number of interfitting, transversely extending ribs or corrugations in the respective co-engaging surfaces. Since the device is applied to the rail with one face of the arm 7 and bar 6 bearing against the cross tie, there is no necessity for any of the rail engaging portions of the device to be moved longitudinally on the rail, either during the application of the device to a rail or after such application. lhis is a matter o'f considerable importance, as it increases the hold of the device on the rail.

The device, when constructed as described and shown in the drawings, provides a relatively wide and long loot-piece to bear against the face of the tie.

The device is of very simple and compact construction and inexpensive to manufactore. it may be readily removed from the rail by forcing or prying down with a suitable tool the right end of the device, having reference to Fig. 1 oi. the drawings, until the upper surface of the shoulder 10 is in the plane of the lower surface of the rail base and then driving the device transversely from the rail base. After the device has been removed from the rail base, it may be again applied to the rail. lin fact, the device may be removed and applied to the rail a number 01? times without materially ail'ecting its holding power.

it do not intend to limit my invention to the details of construction shown and described. except only so far as certain of the appended claims are specifically so limited, as it will be obvious that modificat ons may be made without departing from the principles of my invention.

ll claim:

1. A device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising means extending transversely under the rail base,

means connected with said first named means and entendingaround one of the rail base flanges, said second named means having a portion adapted to bear on the upper face of said base flange, and means connected with said first named means and having a portion bearing against the under face of said base flange, said portions being substantially oppositely disposed and substantially in the vertical plane occupied by said first named means.

2. A device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising means extending transversely under the rail base, means connected with said first named means and extending around one of the rail base flanges, said second named means having a portion adapted to bear on the upper face or said base flange, and an arm connected with and extending oversaid first named means and having a ortion bearing against the under face of said base flange, said portions being substantially in the vertical plane occupied by said first named means and said arm.

3. device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising means extending transversely under the rail base, means connected with one end of said first named means and extending around one of the rail base flanges, said second named means having a portion bearing on the upper face of said base flange, and means con nected with the other end of said first named means and havin a portion bearing against the under face 0 said base flange, said portions being substantially oppositely disposed.

d. A device for preventing the longitudinal creep 0r railroad rails, comprising means extending transversely under the rail base, means connected with one end of said first named means and extending around and bearing on the upper face of one of the rail base flanges, and means connected with the other end of and extending over said first named means and bearing against the under face of said base flange, said second named means being substantially in the vertical plane occupied by said first and third named means.

base flange, said portions being substantially oppositely disposed and substantially in the vertical plane occupied by said means.

6. A device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails comprising means extending transversely under the rail base, a jaw connected with said means and extending around one of the rail base flanges and having a portion bearing on the upper face of said base flange, and an arm yieldably connected with and the under face of said base flange, said portions being substantially in the vertical plane occupied by said means and said arm.

7. A device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails comprising means extending transversely under the rail base, a jaw connected with one end of said means and extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw being adapted to bear on the upper face of said base flange, and an arm yieldably connected with the other end of said means and having a portion bearing against the under face of said base flange, said portions being substantially oppositely disposed.

8. A device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising means extending transversely under the rail base,

a jaw connected with one end of said means and extending around andbearing on the upper face of one ofthe rail base flanges, and an arm yieldably connected with, the other end of and extending over said means and bearing against the under face of said base flange, said jaw being substantially in the vertical plane occupied by said means and said arm.

9. A one-piece device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a member extending transversely under the rail base, said member being formed so as to provide a jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges and havin a portion aring on the upper face of said ase' flange, said member also being formed so as to pro vide a portion of said base flange, sai portions bein sub stantially oppositely disposed and en stantially body.-

10. A one-piece device for preventing the longitudinal creep, of railroad rails, comrising a member extendin transversely uner the rail base, said mem or being formed so as to provide a jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges and having a portion bearin on the up r face of said base flange, sai member a so being formed so as to provide an arm extending thereover and having a portionbearing against the under face of said base flange, said portions being substantially in the vertical plane 00- cupied by said member and said arm.

extending over said. means and having a portion bearing against prising a member bearing a' ainst the under face in the vertical plane occupied by said 11. A one-piece device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a member extending transversely under the rail base, said memberbeing formed at one end so as to provide a jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw being adapted to bear on the upper face of said base flange, said member being formed at the other end so as to provide an arm having a portion bearing against the under face of said base flange, said portions being substantially oppositely disposed. i

A one-piece device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails comextending transversety under the rail base, said member being formed at one end so as to provide a jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said member being formed at the other end so as to provide an arm extending over the body and bearing against the under face of said base flange, said jaw being sub stantially in the vertical plane occupied by said body and said arm.

13. A one-piece device for preventing the 1 longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a substantially rigid bar of resilient metal extending transversely under the rail base, said bar being bent to provide a jaw and an arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said arm having a portion bearing against the under face of said base flange, said portions being substantially oppositely disposed and substantially in the vertical plane occupied by said bar.

14. A one-piece device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails comprising a substantially rigid bar of resilient metal extending transversely under the rail base, said bar being bent to provide a jaw and an arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said arm extending over said bar and having a portion bearing against the under face of said base flange, said portions being substantially in the vertical plane occupied by said bar and said arm.

15. A one-piece device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails comprising a substantially rigid bar of resilient metal extendin transversely under the rail base, said bar. ein bent'at one end to provide a jaw and at t e other end to provide an arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the termina'l'portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said arm having a portion bearing against the under face of saidbg s prising a substantially rigid bar of resilient metal extending transversely under the rail base, said bar being bent at one end to provide a jaw and at the other end to provide an arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said arm extending over said bar and bearing against the under face of said base flange, said jaw being substantially in the vertical plane occupied by said bar and said arm.

17. A device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a member extending transversely under the rail base, said member being formed to provide a jaw and an arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said arm having a portion bearing against the under face of said base flange, the normal arrangement and relative positions of the parts with the device free of the rail being such that upon the application of the device to the rail the device is distorted, the arm being forced toward the main portion of the member and the terminal portion of the jaw being forced farther away main portion of the member.

18. A device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a member extending transversely under the rail base, said member being formed to provide a jaw and an arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said arm ex tending over said member and having a portion bearing against the under face of said base flange, the normal arrangement and relative positions of the parts with the device free of the rail being such that upon the application of the device to the rail the device is distorted, the arm being forced toward the main portion of the member and the terminal portion of the jaw being forced farther away from the main por tion of the member.

19. A one-piece device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a substantially rigid bar of resilient metal extending transversely under the rail base, said bar being bent at one end to provide a jaw and at the other end to provide an arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said arm having a ortion bearing against the under face of said base flange, the normal arrangement and relafrom the tive positions of the parts with the device free of the rail being such that upon the application of the device to the rail the device is distorted, the arm being forced toward the main portion of the bar and the terminal portion of the jaw being forced iarther' away from the main portion of the 20. A one-piece device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a substantially rigid bar of resilient metal extending transversely under the rail base, said bar being bent at one end to provide a jaw and at the other end to provide an arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said arm extending over said bar and having a portion bearing against the under the normal arrangement and relative positions of the parts with the device free of the rail being such that upon the application of the device to the rail the device is distorted, the arm being forced toward the main portion of the bar and the terminal portion: of the jaw being forced farther away from the main portion of the bar.

21. A device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a member extending transversely under the rail base, said member being formed to provide a relatively short jaw and a relatively long arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, the free end of said arm having a portion bearing against the under face of the base flange, the normal arrangement and relative positions of the parts with the device free of the rail being such that upon the application of the device to therail' the device is distorted, the arm being forced toward the main portion of the member and the terminal portion of the jaw being forced farther away from the main portion of the member.

22. A one-piece device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a substantially rigid bar of resilient metal extending transversely under the rail base, said bar being bent at one end to provide a relatively short jawand at the other end to provide a relatively long arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, the free end of said arm having a portion bearing against the under face of said base flange, the normal arrangement and relative positions of the parts with the device free of the rail being such that upon the application of the device to the rail the device is distorted, the arm being forced toward the main portion of the bar and the face of said base flange,

terminal portion of the'jaw being forced farther away from the main portion of the bar.

23. A device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a member extending transversely under the rail base, said member being formed to provide a jaw and an arm, said jaw extending around one of the rail base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said arm extending over said member and having a portion bearing against the under face of said base fltnge, there being normally a space between the under face of said arm and the upper face of the main portion of said member, the normal distance between the under surface of said jaw terminal and the upper surface of the main portion of said. member being substantial y less than the thickness of said arm and tie thickness of that portion of the rail base which is gripped between said jaw terminal portion and said arm portion.

24. A one-piece device for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, comprising a substantially rigid bar of resilient metal extending transversely under the rail base, said bar being bent at one end to provide a jaw and at the other end to provide an arm, said jaw extending around one of the r..ll. base flanges, the terminal portion of said jaw bearing on the upper face of said base flange, said arin extending over said bar and having a portion e o I bearing against the under face of said base flange, there being normally a space between the under face ofsaid arm and the upper face of the main portion of said member, the normal distance between the under surface of said jaw terminal and the upper surface of the main portion of said bar being substantially less than the thickness of said arm and the thickness of that portion of the rail base which is gripped comprising a bar bent between said arm portion.

25. A one-piece rail anchor comprising a heavy bar bent backwardly upon itself at one end to provide a long arm and bent backwardly upon itself at the other end about the arm to provide a jaw.

:26. A one-piece rail anchor for preventing'the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, to extend across the base of a rail and having its extremities overlapping each other and disposed to bear against the upper and lower surfaces respectively, of the rail base.

27. A- one-piece rail'anchor comprising a bar, the end portions of which are bent in- Wardly toward each other; one ofsa-id inwardly bent portions being disposed to exert pressure against the bottom surface of the rail base and the other to exert pressure against the upper surface of said base.

28. A rail anchor comprising a spring jaw terminal portion and said .bar, the end portions of which are bent inwardly toward each other to provide resilient arms, one of said arms being disposed to exert pressure against the bottom surface of the rail base, and the other to exert pressure against the upper surface of said base.

29. A rail anchor comprising a bar, the end portions of which are bent inwardly toward each other to provide resilient portions adapted to grip the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base when the anchor is driven transversely of the rail to its applied position.

80. A rail anchor comprising a resilient bar, one end of which overlaps and bears with pressure on the upper surface of the rail base and the other end of which is formed with a substantially vertically arranged return bend lying under and bearing with pressure against the rail base at the other side of the rail, and with a shoulder engaging the edge of the rail base.

ROLANDIS A. BLAIR. 

